Flamenco not Classical Guitar

[woodelf]

Although I can play steel strung acoustic guitar, I'd like to learn Flamenco guitar, so could anyone in AB land recommend a good (though not too expensive) Flamenco guitar, not a classical guitar, which are slightly different? Ta Muchly.

[jomifl]

When you get into flamenco guitars you are into luthier territory and the spanish do the best ones. There are a lot of very good makers around Valencia, here are a few; Amalio Burguet, Cuenca, Alhambra, Prudencio Saez.
It depends how much you want to pay, I live near the Spanish border so went to Valencia to pick mine up from the luthier(by arrangement) and got it £500 cheaper. You should get a decent one for £500. Those listed above all have websites but perhaps not list prices which may be negotiable. If you can pay by cash it helps with Spanish trading preferences..
Some of the bigger makes such as Esteve have a good reputation but farm out some of their models to smaller local workshops. Many Spanish sounding names are made in China and are not very good.

[jomifl]

Hope these links work

http://www.burguet.co...ccion=modelos&Idioma=

http://www.guisama.com/NEW/images/index_04.png

[jomifl]

And a couple more, Flamenco guitars usually have a (solid) spruce top for better rendition of high tones and are very lightly built for better response and volume.

http://www.cuencaguitars.com/

http://www.alhambrasl.com/index.php?lang=en

[woodelf]

Many Thanks Indeed jomifl for your info and links, I will look into them all.

[jomifl]

Another link for you, although no flamenco guitars are shown on their website, they do make them. They are sold on ebay by 'cantabile' £300 +

http://www.guitarras-azahar.com/Seccion/2S.jpg

[jomifl]

Below is the ebay ref. no. for the £300 Azahar model 130

270723733206

Another make that may be worth considering is almansa, their website was blocked when I tried it but you may have better luck.

[tamborine]

Standard classical has nylon strings for ease on fingers & wider neck for plucking.

http://compare.ebay.c...s&var=sbar&adtype=pla

[woodelf]

Yes Tambo, but classical guitars are made of harder woods than flamencos, which are lighter for a sharper sound quality...or I think so. But that's an interesting point about the width of neck/fretboard. If jomfl reads this, please can he/she let me know if a flamenco guitar has a wider fretboard than a normal acoustic guitar....and Thanks A Million Tambo!

[jomifl]

Hi Woodelf, I don't own a flamenco guitar, however a little research suggests that the nut width is the same as a classical ie. about 52mm. My manouche guitar has 48mm and my steel string parlour guitar is 44mm which I find a little restrictive, the 48mm manouche feels quite roomy. Although a wide nut width may give you more room for error in fretting you may find it too wide if you have stubby fingers. My fingers are a bit short but I manage well enough with a 52mm nutwidth. If you can afford it consider the Amalio Burguet guitars, they are reckoned to be exceptional value, are very loud and beautifully finished, they sometimes have models with a reduced price because of some minor cosmetic flaw (that you would have a job to find). Email Vanessa(Amalio's daughter) at Burguet, she speaks and writes English fairly well. Good luck.

[jomifl]

check this one out on ebay...200711782881

[woodelf]

Sorry jomifl, I should have replied sooner, but Many Thanks for the neck width info and all your other info too...I can't use ebay though.

[jomifl]

Hi Woodelf, You said that you cannot use ebay, there are quite a few items which are pickup only, pay on collection. If there is one of these near you it would be worth considering as pickup only items often go for half the price they would normally get. Failing that Gumtree has a lot of stuff, although as it is small ads. it is a bit riskier for you. Good luck.

[woodelf]

Hi jomifl, Many Thanks for your continued support and I'm sorry to be the Pain in the A, but would you know what kind of capo would be suitable for flamenco guitar?...I guess it wouldn't be that removed from a classical guitar?...though I could and probably am be wrong!

[jomifl]

There are 2 types, those with a curved bar to fit some steel string and /or 12 string guitars and those with a flat bar as used on spanish guitars such as flamenco and classical. The cheapest and least likely to damage the neck is the one with a plastic covered pin secured with a piece of elastic with holes to adjust the tension as in the link below
http://www.ebay.co.uk...s&hash=item1c214de7e4
There are various lever style capos, you pays your money and takes your choice.